The G-7 foreign ministers paid their respects to A. Navalna with a moment of silence

Tajani “started the G-7 ministerial meeting in Munich by asking for a minute’s silence in honor of Alexei Navalny,” the ministry in Rome, which this year heads the group of seven countries, said.

“For his ideas, the fight for freedom and once morest corruption in Russia, A. Navalny was actually condemned to death,” the ministry quoted A. Tajani as saying.

“Russia must explain his death and end its unacceptable repression of political dissidents,” the statement said.

Russian officials said Navalny, a key Russian opposition leader, died on Friday at an Arctic correctional facility where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence, a month before a presidential election that is likely to re-elect Vladimir Putin.

A. Navalny was imprisoned in Russia for three years following the poisoning attempt, which he blamed on the Kremlin.

His death leaves the Russian opposition without a key leader at a time when the country is carrying out intense repression and continuing its war in Ukraine.

In Munich, G-7 foreign ministers are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the Middle East crisis.